Independence Towers renters want their own representation in lawsuit against former landlord

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Tenants at Independence Towers are waiting to see if they can intervene in a lawsuit against their former landlord. This is an apartment complex we have been covering for months.

They will have to wait to see if they have a say in this case involving their own homes. All other parties involved objected to this, so the judge will take time to consider this motion.

Tenants say they still haven’t heard from the initial plaintiff Fanny Mae or the temporary property manager Trigild. So, they want to represent themselves BY ing the lawsuit.

Previous Coverage: A look inside: Tenants furious about conditions at Independence Towers where child fell from window

Mae, the loan lender is suing the former landlord FTW Investments for allowing the building to decay into unsafe living environments and falling behind on payments.

Lawyers testified Mae and Trigild Inc. have so far poured $400,000 so far this year to make repairs. Tenants, however, say they don’t see enough being done.

“It’s becoming obvious that Fannie Mae and Trigild aren’t able to represent our interests,” Chris Carlton, who’s lived at Independence Towers for 10 months, said. “We have to represent ourselves and that’s what we’re going to do with this motion.”

“I believe if we had a seat at the table, us the tenants who have real knowledge and expertise in our building and our homes, there would be more opportunities for us to have repairs that make sense,” Anna Heetman added. “At this point, we believe, all these parties here today are asserting they can represent the tenants’ interest but so far, we felt that not only are they not representing our interest and not communicating with us, but they are also taking actions that don’t make much sense.”

Also Read: Frustrations grow as tenants demands go unmet two months after negotiations with landlord

The judge will decide if the tenants can this lawsuit by the next hearing in late October. October. Neither council for Fannie Mae, Trigild or the former landlord FTW Investments would comment on the proposed motion.

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